Off-center dispensing closure arrangement



Feb. 9, 1965 F. J. KRIEPs 3,168,959

oFF-CENTER nIsaENsING cLosURE ARRANGEMENT Filed June 19, 1963 United States Patent O 3,168,969 GFF-CENTER DiSlENSlNG CLOSURE AFRANGEMENT Frank J. Krieps, Elmhurst, Eli., assigner to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 19, 1963, Ser. No.. 289,066 l Claim. (Cl. 222-520) This invention relates to closures, and more particularly to a captive dispensing closure arrangement for a container, such as a plastic tube or bottle.

The invention comprehends an improvement in a captive closure arrangement which permits dispensing of liquid contents from a capped container without the removal of the cap from the container.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in a closure of the type described, an improved sealing arrangement for an off-center, cap pouring opening.

A more specific object of the invention is the pro- Vision, in a closure of the type described, an off-center pouring channel in the cap which is disposed in alignment with a pair of cooperating, mutually engageable, inclined sealing surfaces on the container and cap, so that when the cap is in closed position the channel will be sealed.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a front elevational View of a portion of a container and cap embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the structure illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, with the cap shown in the closed position; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but with cap rotated 90 and shown in the open position.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen that a cap, indicated generally at C, is shown as applied to the neck N of a preferably plastic container, such as a tube or bottle B.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 the container neck is provided with a conventional pouring throat 1t) and presents at the free end thereof a flat annular outwardly facing surface 12. In order to facilitate engagement with a cap, hereinafter described, the neck may be provided with external threads 14. Additionally, the container neck may be provided with an external locking flange 16, the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

Positioned within the throat of the neck is a tubular insert or sleeve like member indicated generally at which includes an annular collar section 22 and a cylindrical body section 24, the latter being positioned within the throat lil of the neck and having itself a pouring throat 26 concentric with throat 10 of the neck. Body section 24 of the insert may be provided with one or more annular external locking beads 28 which are engageable with the inner surface 29 of the neck throat to provide a liquid tight seal between the insert and the container neck.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, collar portion 22 of the insert, which projects out of the container neck, may be enlarged to form with a shoulder presenting at, inwardly facing surface 30 adapted to seat on the outwardly facing flat surface l2 of the container neck.

At its free end collar section 22 presents an annular tapered, outwardly facing, sealing surface 32 which is inclined to slope radially and axially outward from the axis ice of the container neck. At its extreme outer edge collar section 22 may be provided with a lip portion presenting an annular rounded surface 34, the function of which is hereinafter described.

Still referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be seen that cap C includes a circular end wall 4d having projecting from one side thereof an annular side wall or skirt 42 which defines with the end wall a cavity for receiving the greatest portion of the container neck. The skirt may be provided with internal threads 44 adapted to cooperate with the external threads I4 of the neck in .a conventional manner for threadably mounting the cap on the container neck to permit it to move axially of the neck.

Additionally, the cap skirt may be provided with an internal locking ange 46 adapted to be snapped past and thereafter engage external locking flange 16 of the container neck to prevent the accidental removal of the cap from the neck, in the manner shown and described in United States Letters PatentNo. 2,582,224. This is the so-called captive cap feature which permits limited relative axial movement between the cap and the container neck but, at the same time, prevents the cap from being accidentally removed entirely from the neck.

The skirt may also be provided, adjacent its threaded portion, with a smooth cylindrical inner sealing surface 48 which is engageable with rounded lip surface 34 of the insert collar 22 to provide a liquid-tight seal between the container neck and the cap.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the inside of cap end wall 4t) may be provided with an annular, inwardly extending projection 50 presenting an annular sealing surface 52 which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container neck in the same general manner as neck sealing surface 32. Surfaces 32 of the neck and 52 of the cap are disposed in radial alignment with each and adapted to seat on each other to provide a liquid-tight seal between the cover and neck when the cap is in closed position. In the preferred form, as illustrated in the drawing, the angle of inclination of these surfaces are the same. However, if desired, the surfaces may be formed to slope at slightly different angles in order to afford line contact between the cap and neck, rather than surface contact which is achieved when the surfaces are inclined at the same angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck.

It will be noted that the external or outer periphery of cap sealing surface 52 is spaced radially inward a short distance from the internal surface 34 of the cap skirt to provide an annular recess or pocket 54, the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

Still referring to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that end wall 40 of the cap is provided with a pouring channel or passageway 60 extending axially therethrough and disposed in radial alignment with the sealing surfaces 32 and 52 of the neck and cap, respectively, so that when the cap is in open position, as shown in FIGURE 4, the liquid contents of the container can pass through the throat of the neck or neck insert, between sealing surfaces 32 and S2, and out of the cap pouring passageway 60. When the cap is in closed position, the engagement between sealing surfaces 32 and 52 of the neck and cap, respectively, serves to close off the passageway 6i? and prevent the flow of liquid therethrough.

As is known to those familiar with the art, it is possible especially in the case of an extremely viscous liquid, for certain quantities of the liquid to become trapped between the sealing surfaces 32 and 52 when the cap is moved to the closed position. Provision has been made `for the receipt of this trapped material by spacing the outer periphery of the cap sealing surface 52 radially inwardly from the inner surface 34 of the cap wall or skirt to provide the annular pocket 54 into which the trapped material can pass. The sealing engagement between lip portion surface 315 of the container neck and inner surface 4S of the cap skirt serves to prevent the trapped material from owing out of the container between the outer surface of the container neck and the inner surface of the cap skirt.

If desired the end wall of the cap may be enlarged or raised, as at 62, to provide a pouring spout effect `for the cap. Also, if desired, the outer surface of the cap may be provided with a plurality of grooves 64 to facilitate grasping and turning of the cap on the container.

Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention, previously described and illustrated in the drawing, the sealing surface 32 of the container is shown as being presented by the insert 25B received within the neck of the collar, it will be understood that the insert and neck of the container may be integrally formed, rather than in separate pieces, and such a construction would function in the sarne manner. The additional piece is merely utilized to `facilitate production of the article, but the neck of the container could be enlarged and provided with a sloping sealing surface in the same manner.

I claim:

A captive, pouring, closure arrangement for dispensing liquid from a container, comprising in combination:

(a) a neck on the container, including:

(i) an external locking bead;

(ii) a central pouring throat; and

(iii) an outwardly facing, annular sealing surface on the free end of the neck inclined axially and radially outwardly from the throat; and

(b) a one-piece, captive, closure cap threadably mounted on the neck for limited axial movement inwardly and outwardly relative to said neck to closed and open positions, respectively, and including:

(i) a generally fiat end wall having integral skirt extending therefrom to define therewith a cavity for receiving the container neck;

(ii) an internal locking bead on the skirt adapted to cooperate with the neck locking bead to prevent the accidental removal of the cap from the container neck;

(iii) an inwardly lfacing annular, inclined sealing surface on the inside of said end wall disposed for engagement with said neck sealing surface, when the cap is in closed position, and

(iv) said end wall having extending axially therethrough a single, vertical pouring passageway, larger at one end than at the other, and being disposed in alignment with said cap and neck sealing surfaces, so that when the cap is in open position liquid can flow from the container throat between the respective sealing surfaces and out of the cap pouring passageway, and when the cap is in closed position the engagement between the respective sealing surfaces wiil effect a liquid tight seal therebetween and thereby prevent the ilow of liquid from the neck throat to the cap passageway.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,544,232 6/25 Huntoon 222-520 1,545,103 7/25 Huntoon 222-520 2,829,807 4/58 Kirschenbauni 222-536 X 2,969,896 1/61 Lerner 222-520 3,029,003 4/ 62 Gronerneyer 222-545 3,061,151 10/62 Clare 222-545 X 3,117,702 1/64 Henchert 222-546 X 3,121,519 2/64 Cher-ba 222-568 X 3,124,281 3/64 Stull 222-542 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

